Coil winders, tapers, and finishers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Mean (average) | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| 90th percentile | $63,300 | $30.43 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 38 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,880 | $36,750 | $62,340 | 420 | 2.4 |
| Arkansas | $50,010 | $47,150 | $50,050 | 430 | 4.01 |
| California | $42,330 | $36,310 | $68,180 | 440 | 0.29 |
| Colorado | $48,470 | $40,560 | $57,090 | 40 | 0.15 |
| Connecticut | $42,220 | $37,020 | $57,140 | 320 | 2.26 |
| Florida | $49,350 | $40,870 | $87,380 | 150 | 0.19 |
| Georgia | $59,180 | $44,620 | $64,820 | 420 | 1.03 |
| Idaho | $49,830 | $39,930 | $62,520 | 120 | 1.74 |
| Illinois | $45,020 | $38,120 | $57,960 | 760 | 1.51 |
| Indiana | $48,920 | $44,250 | $60,980 | 790 | 2.98 |
| Iowa | $59,780 | $44,830 | $77,430 | 260 | 1.98 |
| Kansas | $46,470 | $37,980 | $59,900 | 70 | 0.63 |
| Kentucky | $53,490 | $31,540 | $64,990 | 100 | 0.59 |
| Louisiana | $61,480 | $46,380 | $83,200 | 60 | 0.36 |
| Maryland | $54,180 | $40,460 | $63,130 | 160 | 0.68 |
| Massachusetts | $44,080 | $38,700 | $80,710 | 50 | 0.16 |
| Michigan | $47,350 | $37,600 | $61,390 | 110 | 0.3 |
| Minnesota | $52,820 | $47,140 | $65,280 | 80 | 0.33 |
| Mississippi | $35,730 | $32,900 | $60,170 | 150 | 1.55 |
| Missouri | $51,490 | $44,020 | $59,700 | 420 | 1.74 |
| Nevada | $38,140 | $38,110 | $54,610 | 30 | 0.24 |
| New Hampshire | $45,450 | $35,880 | $63,810 | 110 | 1.88 |
| New Jersey | $48,330 | $32,470 | $61,340 | 200 | 0.55 |
| New York | $52,280 | $36,760 | $79,280 | 850 | 1.06 |
| North Carolina | $51,180 | $38,780 | $78,380 | 480 | 1.18 |
| Ohio | $47,770 | $38,590 | $58,900 | 1,020 | 2.22 |
| Oklahoma | $40,490 | $33,440 | $57,110 | 120 | 0.82 |
| Oregon | $41,600 | $37,770 | $58,150 | 40 | 0.22 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,380 | $38,460 | $60,610 | 450 | 0.9 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $21,860 | 80 | 0.99 |
| South Carolina | $51,670 | $40,870 | $60,660 | 190 | 1.02 |
| Tennessee | $46,280 | $38,220 | $63,260 | 1,460 | 5.38 |
| Texas | $44,060 | $26,910 | $61,810 | 1,150 | 0.99 |
| Utah | $51,910 | $39,470 | $59,390 | 50 | 0.34 |
| Virginia | $56,230 | $37,870 | $73,780 | 460 | 1.36 |
| Washington | $73,920 | $36,740 | $162,100 | 60 | 0.2 |
| West Virginia | $47,760 | $36,230 | $59,560 | 70 | 1.15 |
| Wisconsin | $43,270 | $38,880 | $59,330 | 570 | 2.34 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Operate or tend wire-coiling machines to wind wire coils used in electrical components such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments such as bobbins and generators.
- Attach, alter, and trim materials such as wire, insulation, and coils, using hand tools.
- Cut, strip, and bend wire leads at ends of coils, using pliers and wire scrapers.
- Review work orders and specifications to determine materials needed and types of parts to be processed.
- Select and load materials such as workpieces, objects, and machine parts onto equipment used in coiling processes.
- Record production and operational data on specified forms.
- Stop machines to remove completed components, using hand tools.
Technology skills
- Blueprint display software
- Electronic Systems of Wisconsin Motor Test System software
- Machine Control Specialists CoilPro
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Armature Winder, Auto-Winder, Coil Finisher, Coil Winder, Hand Winder, Motor Winder, Winder, Winder Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do coil winders, tapers, and finishers make?
The national median annual wage for coil winders, tapers, and finishers was $48,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,540 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,300. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do coil winders, tapers, and finishers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is coil winders, tapers, and finishers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of coil winders, tapers, and finishers to change -4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay coil winders, tapers, and finishers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($73,920), Louisiana ($61,480), Iowa ($59,780). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.